This page presents tables of sample size (per group) comparing two unpaired proportions, for the following combinations.

Powers of 0.8, 0.9, and 0.99

Probability of Type I Error (α) of 0.1, 0.05, 0.01, and 0.001

One and two tail models

Sample size calculated to be less than 1/proportion (ssiz<1/p1 or ssiz<1/p2) are not included in the table, as a single
positive case in the group will then exceed the proportion being compared.

Sample size for two proportions are used mostly in the Risk Difference model, although it is also used for Risk Ratio comparisons.

The sample size from this page can be used for Odds Ratio comparison, if Odds Ratio is used in a similar manner as
Risk Differences or Risk Ratio to compare two proportions. However, Odds Ratio is often used in matched pair controlled
studies, and in that case the sample size is calculated as number of matched units, and a different algorithm is used.
Sample size for matched paired controlled studies are available in the Sample Size for Matched Paired Controlled Studies Program Page

if a researcher wishes to use a smaller sample size than those published in these tables or calculated using the
Sample Size for Comparison of Two Proportions Program Page
, he/she should use either the Chi Squares Test for the 2x2 contingency table or the
Fisher's Exact probability, as these do not assume a normal transformation of the difference between proportions.

The Chi Squares Test requires a minimum of 30 cases overall, and each cell in the 2x2 table should have a minimum of 5 cases.

The Fisher's Exact Probability is based on the Poisson distribution, and has no minimal sample size requirement. However,
a statistically significant result (p<0.05) is unlikely whatever the data, if less than 6 cases overall are included.